New Red Hot Chili Peppers Album Confirmed

The Red Hot Chili Pepper's first album in five years will be more of a mystery thanks to the second departure of longtime guitarist John Frusciante.

The record is the group’s first since their 2006 double-album Stadium Arcadium, which earned the band some of their highest reviews in years, even putting the first three singles at No. 1 on the rock charts at different times.

While legendary producer and longtime Chili Peppers ally Rick Rubin is on board again, one band member will not be taking a tenth lap with the rest of the crew. Guitarist John Frusciante, who made his second exodus from the group in 2009, will be absent on this record for the first time since the band’s 1995 album One Hot Minute. Former Warpaint guitarist Josh Klinghoffer has been brought on to replace him.

The album’s title comes as somewhat of a surprise to fans, especially after rumors surfaced that the Chili Peppers would name the record in honor of a friend’s acid trip. Said suspected title was Dr. Johnny Skinz’s Disproportionately Rambunctious Polar Express Machine-Head.

That’s more than a hop-skip-and-jump from I’m With You, but we’ll take it.

The album’s first single, “The Adventures Of Raindance Maggie,” will debut on July 18th.